Camellia plant named &#39;Julius Nuccio&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Camellia  plant named ‘Julius Nuccio’, characterized by its sturdy upright plant habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance; leathery emerald green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large semi-double flowers with bright crimson-colored petals; flowers face upright to outwardly on strong peduncles; and good garden performance

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Camellia japonica

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘JULIUS NUCCIO’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Camellia plant, botanically known as Camellia japonica, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Julius Nuccio’.

The new Camellia plant originated from an open-pollination in Altadena, Calif. of an unnamed selection of Camellia japonica, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Camellia japonica as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Camellia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Altadena, Calif. in 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Camellia plant by terminal cuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Altadena, Calif. since 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Camellia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Camellia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Julius Nuccio’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Julius Nuccio’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Camellia:

-   1. Sturdy upright plant habit. -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance. -   3. Leathery emerald green-colored leaves. -   4. Freely flowering habit. -   5. Large semi-double flowers with bright crimson-colored petals. -   6. Flowers face upright to outwardly on strong peduncles. -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Camellia differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower form and flower size as flowers of plants of the new Camellia are larger and have more petals than flowers of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Camellia can be compared to the plants of Camellia japonica ‘Tom Knudsen’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Altadena, Calif., plants of the new Camellia differed from plants of the ‘Tom Knudsen’ in the following characteristics:

-   1. Plants of the new Camellia were denser and bushier than plants of     ‘Tom Knudsen’. -   2. Plants of the new Camellia had larger flowers than plants of ‘Tom     Knudsen’. -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Camellia faced outwardly whereas     flowers plants of ‘Tom Knudsen’ were drooping.

Plants of the new Camellia can also be compared to the plants of Camellia japonica ‘Colonel Firey’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Altadena, Calif., plants of the new Camellia differed from plants of the ‘Colonel Firey’ in the following characteristics:

-   1. Plants of the new Camellia were denser and bushier than plants of     ‘Colonel Firey’. -   2. Plants of the new Camellia flowered earlier than plants of     ‘Colonel Firey’. -   3. With development, flowers of plants of the new Camellia     maintained form and color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Colonel     Firey’ reflexed and faded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Camellia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Camellia plant. The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Julius Nuccio’ grown in a container. The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Julius Nuccio’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Altadena, Calif. in five-gallon containers in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse during the winter under cultural practices typical of commercial Camellia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 21° C. and night temperatures averaged 10° C. Plants were four years old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Camellia japonica ‘Julius Nuccio’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Camellia             japonica, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Camellia             japonica, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             months at air temperatures ranging from 21° C. to 32° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness; off-white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial evergreen shrub;             sturdy upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; about 14 primary             lateral branches develop per plant; dense and bushy             appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 88 cm.         -   Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 46 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 69 cm. Diameter:             About 8 mm. Internode length: About 2.7 cm to 4.5 cm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to outwardly. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous; woody with development. Color, young             stems: Close to N199C. Color, older stems: Close to 199A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, single. Length:             About 12.5 cm. Width: About 5.3 cm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Serrate. Venation pattern:             Pinnate, arcuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; leathery. Luster, upper surface: Glossy. Luster,             lower surface: Matte. Color: Developing leaves, upper             surface: Close to N137A. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close             to N137A; venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper             surface: Close to 145A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and appearance.—Semi-double rotate             flowers, flowers terminal and axillary; freely flowering             habit with usually about 14 to 15 flowers and flower buds             developing per lateral branch; flowers face upright to             outwardly.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Camellia flower             continuously during February and March in California.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Plants maintain good flower             substance for about seven to ten days on the plant; flowers             not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower diameter.—Large, about 12.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 5.8 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 185A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Semi-double flower form; about 16             petals arranged in about four whorls. Length: About 6.5 cm.             Width: About 4.8 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded and             slightly sinuate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 185A. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 183A to 183B. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 53A; color does not fade with development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 185A; color does not             fade with development.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: About nine fused in 2.5 whorls; shallow             cup-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.2 cm. Width: About 2 cm.             Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Truncate.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to 145C to 145D. Color, lower surface: Close to 145B             to 145D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Aspect:             About 20° to 45° from stem axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower:             About 98. Filament length: About 3.8 cm. Filament color:             Close to 48A. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About             3 mm. Anther color: Close to 161A. Pollen amount: Moderate.             Pollen color: Close to 15A. Gynoecium: Quantity of pistils             per flower: One. Pistil length: About 3.5 cm. Style length:             About 2.6 cm. Style color: Close to 36D. Stigma shape:             Three-parted. Stigma color: Close to 145B. Ovary color:             Close to 150D.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed production have not been             observed on plants of the new Camellia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Camellia have been observed     have good garden performance and to be tolerant to rain and wind and     to tolerate temperatures from about −9° C. to about 46° C. -   Disease & pest resistant: Plants of the new Camellia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Camellia     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Camellia plant named ‘Julius Nuccio’ as illustrated and described. 